Shchedryk (from the Ukrainian word shchedryy; "bountiful") is a Ukrainian shchedrivka, or New Year's carol. It was arranged by composer and school teacher Mykola Leontovych in 1916, and tells a story of a swallow flying into a household to sing of wealth that will come with the following spring. Shchedryk was originally sung on the night of January 13 (Old Style), which is Shchedry Vechir (Ukrainian: ?????? ???i?, 'Bountiful Evening') to Ukrainians, New Year's Eve by the Julian Calendar.
Shchedryk was later adapted to an English Christmas carol, Carol of the Bells, by Peter J. Wilhousky following a performance of the original song by the Ukrainian National Chorus at Carnegie Hall on October 5, 1921. Wilhousky copyrighted and published his new lyrics (which were not based on the Ukrainian lyrics) in 1936, and the song became popular in the United States, where it became strongly associated with Christmas.

Origins and translation

The song is based on a traditional folk chant whose language was thought to have magical properties. The original traditional Ukrainian text used a device known as hemiola in the rhythm (alternating the accents within each measure from 3/4 to 6/8 and back again). The chant based on an ostinato 4 note pattern within the range of a minor third is thought to be of prehistoric origins and was associated with the coming New Year which in Ukraine before the introduction of Christianity was originally celebrated in April.
With the introduction of Christianity to Ukraine, the celebration of the New Year was moved from April to January and the holiday the chant describes became associated with the Feast of Epiphany also known in Ukrainian as Shchedry vechir. The songs sung for this celebration are known as Schedrivky.
The original Ukrainian text tells the tale of a swallow flying into a household to proclaim the plentiful and bountiful year that the family will have."The title is derived from the Ukrainian word for "bountiful."
In Ukraine, the carol is currently sung on the eve of the Julian New Year (January 13th).
The 4 note melody over a minor 3rd of the chant was used by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych as an ostinato theme in a number of arrangements he made. The arrangement for mixed voice choir a cappella was popularized by the Ukrainian Republic Capella directed by Oleksander Koshetz when it toured the West after 1920.
The first of the English language lyrics below were written in 1936 by Peter Wilhousky of NBC Radio. The song reminded Wilhousky of beautiful ringing bells and he captured that imagery in his lyrics.
fonte: en.wikipedia.org (allo stesso indirizzo sono presenti il testo di "Shchedryk", la sua traslitterazione, la traduzione in inglese e il testo di "Carol of the Bells")

[::Tracklist::] Abney Park - Carol of the Bells
Al Di Meola - Carol of the Bells
Angels of Venice - Carol of the Bells
Arcanta - Carol of the Bells
Barenaked Ladies - Carol of the Bells
Barking Dogs & Jingle Cats - Carol of the Bells
Boston Pops - Carol of the Bells
Boys Choir of Harlem - Carol of the Bells
Brad White & Pierre Grill - Carol of the Bells
Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir - Carol of The Bells
California Guitar Trio - Carol of the Bells
Canadian Brass - Carol of the Bells
Celtic Woman - Carol of the Bells
Charlie Byrd & Washington Guitar Quintet - Carol of the Bells
Cheremshyna Ensemble - Shchedryk (Carol of the Bells)
Choir Irkutsk University - Schedryk
Cody Kilby - Carol of the Bells
Columbia Boys Choir - Carol of the Bells
Danny Wright - Carol of the Bells
David Benoit - Carol of the Bells
David Foster - Carol of the Bells
Deana Carter - Carol of the Bells
Destiny's Child - Opera of the Bells
Dianne Reeves - Carol of the Bells
Donal Hinley - Carol of the Bells
Durbin Elf - Carol of the Bells
Fleming & John - Carol of the Bells
George Winston - Carol of the Bells
Harry Connick Jr. - Carol of the Bells
John Tesh Project - Carol of the Bells
John Williams - Carol of the Bells
Johnny Mathis - Carol of the Bells
Kenny Rogers - Carol Of The Bells
Kiev Chamber Choir - Shchedryk
Krypteria - Carol of the Bells
La petite Bande de Montréal - Carol of the bells
Mancow - Carol of the Bells(parody)
Mannheim Steamroller - Carol of the Bells
Mary Mary - Carol of the Bells
Mitya Kuznetsov - Schedryk
Moya Brennan - Carol of the Bells
Nancy Wilson - Carol of the Bells
New World Orchestra - Carol of the Bells
New York Philharmonic - Carol of the Bells
NSync - Carol of the Bells
Patty Loveless - Carol Of The Bells
Paul Horn - Carol of the Bells
Point of Grace - Carol Of The Bells
Robert Shaw Chorale - Carol of the Bells
Shchedryk
South Park - Carol of the Bells
Spencer Brewer - Ukrainian Carol (Carol of the Bells)
Steve Lukather - Carol of the Bells
The Carpenters - Carol of the Bells
The Countdown Kids - Carol of the Bells
The Four Seasons - Carol of the Bells
The Klezmonauts - Carol of the Bells
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir - Carol of the Bells
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir - Carol of the Bells (version 1)
The Nylons - Carol of the Bells
The St. Olaf Choir - Carol of the Bells
Trans-Siberian Orchestra & Metallica - Carol of the Bells(long)
Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus - Shchedryk (Carol of the Bells)
Undina - Shchedryk (Carol of the Bells)
Unknown A Capella A - Carol of the Bells
Unknown A Capella B - Carol of the Bells
Unknown A Capella Women - Carol of the Bells(Home Alone Soundtrack)
Unknown Hammered Dulcimer & Flute - Carol of the Bells
Unknown Handbells - Carol of the Bells
Unnamed Artists (Coca Cola) - Carol Of The Bells
Vienna Boys Choir - Carol of the Bells
William Wilde Zeitler - Carol of the Bells
Windham Hill Artists - Carol of the Bells
Wynton Marsalis - Carol of the Bells